* Release Day & Review * Return To Earth (The Galaxy Series #2) by Aithal

Source: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Genre: Science Fiction, Time Travel, First ContactFormat: eBookPublication Date: January 20, 2016

Back Cover

After their shuttle meeting with an accident and accidentally landing on a strange planet, the three astronauts return to Earth with the help of the aliens. However, they end up returning in the wrong time—in the future.

What they experience truly shocks them. They return to a time when separation, division, and hatred rules. Indeed, they return to Earth. But is it really home? What has happened to their beloved planet? And what has happened to their country, the most powerful nation on Earth? Is it still the most powerful country on Earth? Whose doing is it?

In a place where a human sees and treats a fellow human defines his existence. In a time when survival is the most important thing, the human spirit of endurance and sharing shows how life can be when things become dire.

In this second book of The Galaxy Series, join the adventures of the three astronauts and an alien on Earth. Take an emotional rollercoaster ride as they travel through America, see what they see and ask yourself—‘is this what I want to leave my next generation?

Review

After narrowly escaping The Shadows that were chasing them when they retrieved their ship, the three astronauts and Tom find themselves on Earth. While the three astronauts are jubilant to return home, Tom is a bit upset that he was taken away from his home on Etoo.

The astronaut's jubilation is short-lived as they meet a small party of fellow Earthlings and discover that they have traveled to the future; a future in which corporate greed, prejudice, discrimination, and a complete disregard for Mother Earth has literally fractured their planet.

Return to Earth is a heart-wrenching, emotional ride as the author guides us on a journey through a hypothetical landscape that is nearly bereft of kindness, empathy, compassion, and demonstrates a notable disregard of basic human rights. The author's blunt and fluid phraseology strips away all of our society's false sense of safety and security as the protagonists make their way across a battered and barren land. However, the protagonists discover that the situation is not entirely hopeless as they meet people who share their ideologies and help them along the way.

A wonderfully intriguing science fiction novel that is reminiscent of Heinlein's work; brutal, beautiful, and complex. Return to Earth makes a relevant statement about today's society that is equal parts bleak and hopeful. It is truly an amazing addition to the genre!